How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

10
Nov
What is a Buoypop 101

In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

25
Oct
How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

25
Oct
View All Posts

From Instagram

Hold up, wait a minute now. May have a little shift in the matrix. Models are all over the place, but I’m saying there’s a chance.

View

Apr 14

Open
Hold up, wait a minute now. May have a little shift in the matrix. Models are all over the place, but I’m saying there’s a chance.

Hold up, wait a minute now. May have a little shift in the matrix. Models are all over the place, but I’m saying there’s a chance. ...

942 16

Did you know Becker Hill was once the largest ski jumping hill in the world?
Here’s a shot of Alf Engen—yes, that Alf Engen of Alta fame—at Becker Hill, where he and his brother Sverre, along with a crew of OG Norwegians, were hucking and hotdoggin’ long before terrain parks were a thing.

When Pineview Reservoir was built, Becker Hill was relocated to Snowbasin, and now the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation (the kids’ ski race program) is auctioning and raffling off the Becker Chairlifts. We’re getting down to the wire—if you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Utah ski history, now’s your shot.

On a personal note, my son Becker is named in honor of the Becker family—founders of Becker’s Brewing & Malting, one of Utah’s first breweries. My mother-in-law is a proud Becker from Ogden, so this story runs deep for us.

Link’s in my profile—don’t miss your chance to grab a piece of ski legend.

View

Apr 13

Open
Did you know Becker Hill was once the largest ski jumping hill in the world? Here’s a shot of Alf Engen—yes, that Alf Engen of Alta fame—at Becker Hill, where he and his brother Sverre, along with a crew of OG Norwegians, were hucking and hotdoggin’ long before terrain parks were a thing. When Pineview Reservoir was built, Becker Hill was relocated to Snowbasin, and now the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation (the kids’ ski race program) is auctioning and raffling off the Becker Chairlifts. We’re getting down to the wire—if you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Utah ski history, now’s your shot. On a personal note, my son Becker is named in honor of the Becker family—founders of Becker’s Brewing & Malting, one of Utah’s first breweries. My mother-in-law is a proud Becker from Ogden, so this story runs deep for us. Link’s in my profile—don’t miss your chance to grab a piece of ski legend.

Did you know Becker Hill was once the largest ski jumping hill in the world?
Here’s a shot of Alf Engen—yes, that Alf Engen of Alta fame—at Becker Hill, where he and his brother Sverre, along with a crew of OG Norwegians, were hucking and hotdoggin’ long before terrain parks were a thing.

When Pineview Reservoir was built, Becker Hill was relocated to Snowbasin, and now the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation (the kids’ ski race program) is auctioning and raffling off the Becker Chairlifts. We’re getting down to the wire—if you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Utah ski history, now’s your shot.

On a personal note, my son Becker is named in honor of the Becker family—founders of Becker’s Brewing & Malting, one of Utah’s first breweries. My mother-in-law is a proud Becker from Ogden, so this story runs deep for us.

Link’s in my profile—don’t miss your chance to grab a piece of ski legend. ...

393 8

Well this was all looking a bit more promising a few days ago, looks like Jackson getting a little and Colorado for the w. It’s been an interesting season on moments of glory, mostly for the cottonwoods with some leftovers for the Wasatch back. Always thankful and grateful for those moments and now for some spring skiing. #yeahbuoy

View

Apr 10

Open
Well this was all looking a bit more promising a few days ago, looks like Jackson getting a little and Colorado for the w. It’s been an interesting season on moments of glory, mostly for the cottonwoods with some leftovers for the Wasatch back. Always thankful and grateful for those moments and now for some spring skiing. #yeahbuoy

Well this was all looking a bit more promising a few days ago, looks like Jackson getting a little and Colorado for the w. It’s been an interesting season on moments of glory, mostly for the cottonwoods with some leftovers for the Wasatch back. Always thankful and grateful for those moments and now for some spring skiing. #yeahbuoy ...

656 9

4/20 storm?

View

Apr 7

Open
4/20 storm?

4/20 storm? ...

859 30

So you’re saying there’s a chance. Will the tax day pow day tradition continue?? #yeahbuoy

View

Apr 3

Open
So you’re saying there’s a chance. Will the tax day pow day tradition continue?? #yeahbuoy

So you’re saying there’s a chance. Will the tax day pow day tradition continue?? #yeahbuoy ...

892 6

A. Buoypop, April 7 on the radar
B. Snow incoming on the 29th
C. And most importantly, there’s a state of the snowpack event with the illustrious Craig Gordon tonight at the Park City Brewery at 6PM. If you’ve never been to one, something not to miss. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo

View

Mar 26

Open
A. Buoypop, April 7 on the radar B. Snow incoming on the 29th C. And most importantly, there’s a state of the snowpack event with the illustrious Craig Gordon tonight at the Park City Brewery at 6PM. If you’ve never been to one, something not to miss. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo

A. Buoypop, April 7 on the radar
B. Snow incoming on the 29th
C. And most importantly, there’s a state of the snowpack event with the illustrious Craig Gordon tonight at the Park City Brewery at 6PM. If you’ve never been to one, something not to miss. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo ...

167 2

When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses

View

Mar 22

Open
When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses

When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses ...

750 41

This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy

View

Mar 20

Open
This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy

This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy ...

851 7

When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps

View

Mar 19

Open
When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps

When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps ...

521 16

@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story.

This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer.

The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah.

Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings.

Link in my profile.
#itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory

View

Mar 18

Open
@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story. This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer. The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah. Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings. Link in my profile. #itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory

@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story.

This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer.

The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah.

Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings.

Link in my profile.
#itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory ...

841 14

Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy

View

Mar 14

Open
Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy

Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy ...

1048 11

14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy

View

Mar 12

Open
14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy

14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy ...

1347 22

Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime

View

Mar 9

Open
Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime

Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime ...

821 14

And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy

View

Mar 4

Open
And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy

And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy ...

1891 42